Diseases of Potted Foliage Plants - 1990 Listing

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University of Florida, IFAS,
Central Florida Research and Education Center - Apopka
CFREC-Apopka, Research Report, RH-90-14

A. R. Chase*

Foliage plants are subject to problems caused by insects, mites, enviromnental stresses and pathogens. The following list includes the pathogens which cause diseases on most potted foliage plants. Production of new crops can be aided if diseases of that crop are known and control measures elected prior to an outbreak. Further information on a disease can usually be obtained by consulting one or more of the references listed below. Unfortunately not all diseases listed have been adequately described. In either case, the most current source of information in a general reference can be found in reference #2. Specific information on pesticide efficacy and phytotoxicity can be found in references #3 and #4.

General References

  1. Alfieri, S.A, Jr., Langdon, KR., Wehlburg, C., and Kimbrough, J.W. 1984. Index of plant diseases in Florida. Fla. Dep. Agric. Consumer Serv. Div. Plant Ind., Bull. 11 (rev. 1984). 389 pp.
  2. Chase, A R. 1987. Compendium of Ornamental Foliage Plant Diseases. American Phytopathological Society Press, St. Paul. 92 pp.
  3. Chase, A. R. 1989. Index for fungicide-bactericide research at CFREC-Apopka, 1981-1989. Nursery Digest 24(4):54-56.
  4. Chase, A. R. 1990. Phytotoxicity of bactericides and fungicides on some ornamentals - 1990 update. Nursery Digest
  5. Fletcher, J. T. 1984. Diseases of Greenhouse Plants. Longman Group Limited, Essex, England, 351 pp.
  6. Forsberg, J.L. 1975. Diseases of Ornamental Plants. 2nd ed. University of Illinois Press, Urbana. 219 pp.
  7. Pirone, P.P. 1978. Diseases and Pests of Ornamental Plants. 5th ed. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 566 pp.
  8. Strider, D.L., ed. 1985. Diseases of Floral Crops, Vol. 2. Praeger Scientific, New York. 638 pp.
  9. Westcott, C. 1971. Plant Disease Handbook. 3rd ed. Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 843 pp.

*Professor of Plant Pathology, Central Florida Research and Education Center - Apopka, 2807 Binion Road, Apopka, FL 32703-8504

Table 1. Listing of diseases of foliage plants by host.
Plant Disease Pathogen (s)
Aechmea fasciata
(Urn plant, Bromeliad)		 Anthracnose Colletotrichum sp.
  Bacterial leaf spot Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora
  Exserohilum leaf spot Exserohilum rostratum
  Rhizoctonia leaf spot Rhizoctonia solani
     
Aeschynanthus pulcher
(Lipstick vine) 		Botrytis blight Botrytis cinerea
  Corynespora leaf spot Corynespora cassiicola
  Myrothecium leaf spot Myrothecium roridum
  Phytophthora stem rot Phytophthora parasitica
  Tobacco mosaic Tobacco mosaic virus
     
Aglaonema spp. (Chinese evergreen and others) Bacterial leaf spot Erwinia chrysanthemi, Pseudomonas cichorii, Xanthomonas campestris pv. dieffenbachiae
  Colletotrichum leaf spot (anthracnose) Colletotrichum sp.
  Dasheen mosaic Dasheen mosaic virus
  Fusarium stem rot Fusarium solani
  Myrothecium leaf spot Myrothecium roridum
  Phytophthora stem rot Phytophthora sp.
  Pythium root rot Pythium spp.
  Rhizoctonia stem and root rot Rhizoctonia (binucleate)
  Soft rot Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
     
Anthurium spp. (Tailflower) Anthracnose and spadix blight Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
  Bacterial leaf spot Pseudomonas cichorii
  Bacterial blight Xanthomonas campestris pv. dieffenbachiae
  Burrowing nematode Radopholus similis
  Dasheen mosaic Dasheen mosaic virus
  Foliar nematode Aphelenchoides spp.
  Pythium root rot Pythium spp.
  Rhizoctonia aerial blight Rhizoctonia solani
  Soft rot Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora
     
Aphelandra squarrosa
(Zebra plant)		 Aphelandra stem gall Nectriella pironii (Kutilakesa)
  Bacterial leaf spot Xanthomonas campestris pv. unnamed
  Botrytis blight Botrytis cinerea
  Corynespora leaf spot Corynespora cassiicola
  Mosaic Cucumber mosaic virus
  Myrothecium leaf spot Myrothecium roridum
  Phytophthora stem rot Phytophthora parasitica
  Rhizoctonia stem rot Rhizoctonia solani
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
  Tomato spotted wilt Tomato spotted wilt virus
     
Araucaria heterophylla
(Norfolk Island pine) 		Bleeding canker Dothiorella sp.
  Colletotrichum needle blight Colletotrichum derridis
  Cylindrocladium root rot Cylindrocladium sp.
  Pythium root rot Pythium spp.
  Rhizoctonia root rot or needle blight Rhizoctonia (binucleate)
     
Asplenium nidus (Bird's-nest fern) Bacterial leaf spot Pseudomonas asplenii
    Pseudomonas gladioli
  Foliar nematode Aphelenchoides fragariae
  Rhizoctonia aerial blight Rhizoctonia solani AG1
     
Begonia spp. Bacterial blight Xanthomonas campestris pv. begoniae
  Myrothecium blight Myrothecium roridum
  Pythium root rot Pythium sp.
  Rhizoctonia stem and root rot Rhizoctonia solani AG4
     
Brassaia actinophylla
(Schefflera, Umbrella tree) 		Alternaria leaf spot Alternaria panax
  Bacterial leaf spot Pseudomonas cichorii
    Erwinia chrysanthemi
  Cercospora leaf spot Cercospora spp.
  Colletotrichum leaf spot (anthracnose) Colletotrichum sp.
  Phytophthora leaf spot Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae
  Pythium root rot Pythium splendens
  Rhizoctonia aerial blight Rhizoctonia solani
  Root knot nematode Meloidogyne spp.
  Seedling blight Pythium splendens
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
  Tomato spotted wilt Tomato spotted wilt virus
  Xanthomonas leaf spot Xanthomonas campestris pv. hederae
     
Cacti Cactus cyst nematode Cactodera cacti
  Colletotrichum stem rot Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
  Drechslera stem rot Drechslera cactivora
  Erwinia stem rot Erwinia spp.
  Virus Cactus virus X
     
Caladium x hortulanum (Fancy-leaved caladium) Bacterial leaf spot and soft rot Envinia carotovora subsp. carotovora
  Dasheen mosaic Dasheen mosaic virus
  Fusarium corm rot Fusarium solani
  Lesion nematode Pratylenchus spp.
  Pythium root rot Pythium myriotylum
  Rhizoctonia aerial blight Rhizoctonia (binucleate)
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
  Xanthomonas leaf spot Xanthomonas campestris pv. dieffenbachiae
     
Calathea spp. Alternaria leaf spot Alternaria alternata
  Burrowing nematode Radopholus similis
  Cucumber mosaic Cucumber mosaic virus
  Drechslera leaf spot Drechslera setariae
  Fusarium root rot Fusarium oxysporum
  Pseudomonas leaf spot Pseudomonas cichorii
     
Caryota mitis
(Fish-tail palm)		 Bacterial leaf blight Pseudomonas avenae (= P. alboprecipitans)
  Damping off Fusarium spp.
    Pythium spp.
  Drechslera leaf spot Drechslera setariae
  Exserohilum leaf spot Exserohilum rostratum
  Lethal yellows Mycoplasma-like organism
     
Chamaedorea spp. (Parlor palm, Florida hybrid palm) Burrowing nematode Radopholus similis
  Drechslera leaf spot Drechslera setariae
  Exserohilum leaf spot Drechslera setariae
  Gliocladium blight Gliocladium vermosceni
  Lesion nematode Pratylenchus spp.
  Phytophthora blight Phytophthora sp.
  Seedling root rot Fusarium spp.
    Pythium spp.
     
Chrysalidocarpus lutescens (Areca palm) Damping off Fusarium spp.
  Drechslera leaf spot Drechslera setariae
  Exserohilum leaf spot Exserohilum rostratum
  Gliocladium stem rot Gliocladium vermosceni
  Phaeotrichoconis leaf spot Phaeotrichoconis crotalariae
  Sclerotinia blight Sclerotinia homeocarpa
     
Cissus spp. (Grape ivy, Kangaroo vine) Anthracnose Colletotrichum sp. (Glomerella cingulata)
  Botrytis blight Botrytis cinerea
  Downy mildew Plasmopara sp.
  Powdery mildew Oidium sp.
  Rhizoctonia aerial blight and root rot Rhizoctonia (binucleate)
  Root rot Pythium spp.
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
     
Codiaeum variegatum (Croton) Anthracnose Glomerella cingulata
  Bacterial leaf spot Xanthomonas campestris pv. poinsettiicola
  Crown gall Agrobacterium tumefaciens
  Lesion nematode Pratylenchus coffea
  Rhizoctonia root rot Rhizoctonia (binucleate)
  Stem gall and canker Nectriella pironii (Kutilakesa)
     
Cordyline terminalis (Ti plant) Anthracnose Glomerella cingulata
  Cercospora leaf spot or false rust Cercospora sp.
  Erwinia stem and root rot Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora
    Erwinia chlysanthemi
  Lesion nematode Pratylenchus spp.
  Phyllosticta leaf spot Phyllosticta draconis
  Phytophthora leaf spot Phytophthora parasitica
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
     
Cryptanthus sp. (Bromeliad, Earth star) Colletotrichum leaf spot Colletotrichum sp.
     
Dieffenbachia spp. (Dumb cane) Bacterial leaf spot Pseudomonas cichorii
    Xanthomonas campestris pv. dieffenbachiae
  Brown leaf spot Leptosphaeria sp.
  Cephalosporium leaf spot Cephalosporium cinnamomeum
  Dasheen mosaic Dasheen mosaic virus
  Erwinia blight and leaf spot Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora
    Erwinia chrysanthemi
  Fusarium stem rot Fusarium oxysporum
    Fusarium solani
  Glomerella leaf spot Glomerella cingulata (Colletotrichum spp.)
  Lesion nematode Pratylenchus spp.
  Myrothecium leaf spot Myrothecium roridum
  Phytophthora leaf spot Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae
  Pythium root rot Pythium spp.
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
  Tomato spotted wilt Tomato spotted wilt virus
     
Dracaena spp. Bacterial leaf spot Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora
    Erwinia chrysanthemi
    Erwinia herbicola
    Pseudomonas sp.
  Botrytis blight Botrytis cinerea
  Colletotrichum leaf spot Colletotrichum sp.
  Fusarium leaf spot and stem rot Fusarium moniliforme
  Lesion nematode Pratylenchus spp.
  Phyllosticta leaf spot Phyllosticta draconis
  Phytophthora leaf spot Phytophthora parasitica
  Rhizoctonia leaf spot Rhizoctonia (binucleate)
  Soft rot Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
  Stem rot Aspergillus niger
     
Epipremnum aureum (Pothos) Bacterial leaf spot Erwinia spp.
    Pseudomonas cichorii
  Foot rot Rhizoctonia solani AG4
  Pythium root rot Pythium splendens
  Rapid decay (soft rot) Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora
  Root knot nematode Meloidogyne spp.
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
     
Fatsia japonica (Japanese aralia) Alternaria leaf spot Alternaria panax
  Bacterial leaf spot Pseudomonas cichorii
    Xanthomonas campestris pv. hederae
  Pythium root rot Pythium splendens
  Phytophthora stem rot Phytophthora sp.
  Rhizoctonia aerial blight Rhizoctonia solani
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
     
Ficus benjamina (Weeping fig) Corynespora leaf spot Corynespora cassiicola
  Crown gall Agrobacterium tumefaciens
  Lesion nematode Pratylenchus spp.
  Phomopsis dieback Diplodia sp.
    Phomopsis sp.
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
  Verticillium wilt Verticillium albo-atrum
  Xanthomonas leaf spot Xanthomonas campestris pv. fici
     
Ficus elastica (India Rubber tree) Cercospora leaf spot Cercospora sp.
  Colletotrichum leaf spot Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
  Crown gall Agrobacterium tumefaciens
  Foliar nematode Aphelenchoides besseyi
  Gray mold Botrytis cinerea
  Lesion nematode Pratylenchus spp.
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
     
Fittonia verschaffeltii (Nerve plant) Biden's mottle Biden's mottle virus
  Rhizoctonia aerial blight Rhizoctonia solani AG4
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
  Xanthomonas leaf spot Xanthomonas campestris pv. unnamed
     
Gynura aurantiaca (Purple velvet plant) White mold Sclerotinia sp.
  Pythium root rot Pythium sp.
     
Hedera helix (English ivy) Bacterial leaf spot Xanthomonas campestris pv. hederae
  Botrytis blight Botrytis cinerea
  Colletotrichum leaf spot Colletotrichum trichellum
  Phyllosticta leaf spot Phyllosticta concentrica
  Phytophthora leaf spot Phytophthora palmivora
  Phytophthora root rot Phytophthora spp.
  Rhizoctonia aerial blight Rhizoctonia solani AG4
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
     
Howea sp. (Kentia palm) Cylindrocladium leaf spot Cylindrocladium sp.
  Damping off Fusarium spp.
    Pythium spp.
  Drechslera leaf spot Drechslera setariae
  Exserohilum leaf spot Exserohilum rostratum
     
Hoya carnosa (Wax plant) Botrytis blight Botrytis cinerea
  Cercospora leaf spot Cercospora sp.
  Rhizoctonia aerial blight Rhizoctonia solani
     
Maranta leuconeura (Prayer plant, Rabbit tracks) Burrowing nematode Radopholus similis
  Cucumber mosaic Cucumber mosaic virus
  Drechslera leaf spot Drechslera setariae
  Pythium root rot Pythium sp.
  Root knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica
     
Monstera deliciosa (Swiss cheese plant) Bacterial leaf spot Pseudomonas cichorii
  Colletotrichum leaf spot Colletotrichum sp.
  Rhizoctonia aerial blight Rhizoctonia solani
  Soft rot Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
     
Nephrolepis exaltata (Boston fern and others) Bacterial leaf spot Pseudomonas gladioli
  Botrytis blight Botrytis cinerea
  Foliar nematode Aphelenchoides fragariae
  Lesion nematode Pratylenchus spp.
  Rhizoctonia aerial blight or root rot Rhizoctonia solani
  Myrothecium leaf spot Myrothecium roridum
  Phyllosticta leaf spot Phyllosticta sp.
  Phytophthora stem and root rot Phytophthora parasitica
  Pythium root rot Pythium splendens
  Rhizoctonia aerial blight Rhizoctonia spp.
  Ring spot unidentified virus
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
  Verticillium wilt Verticillium dahliae
     
Philodendron spp. Bacterial leaf spot Pseudomonas cichorii
  Botrytis blight Botrytis cinerea
  Cercospora leaf spot Cercospora sp.
  Colletotrichum leaf spot Colletotrichum sp.
  Dasheen mosaic Dasheen mosaic virus
  Dactylaria leaf spot Dactylaria humicola
  Erwinia blight Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora
    Erwinia chrysanthemi
  Myrothecium leaf spot Myrothecium roridum
  Phytophthora leaf spot Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae
  Pythium root rot Pythium spp.
  Red edge Xanthomonas campestris pv. dieffenbachiae
  Rhizoctonia aerial blight Rhizoctonia (binucleate)
  Root knot nematode Meloidogyne spp.
  Soft rot Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
     
Pilea spp. (Aluminum plant and others) Bacterial leaf spot Xanthomonas campestris pv. unnamed
  Colletotrichum blight Colletotrichum capisci
  Myrothecium leaf spot Myrothecium roridum
  Phytophthora blight Phytophthora parasitica
  Rhizoctonia aerial blight Rhizoctonia solani AG1 and AG4
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
     
Platycerium bifurcatum (Staghorn fern) Bacterial leaf spot Pseudomonas cichorii
    Pseudomonas gladioli
  Rhizoctonia aerial blight Rhizoctonia (binucleate)
     
Polyscias spp. (Aralia) Alternaria leaf spot Altemaria panax
  Anthracnose Colletotrichum spp.
  Bacterial leaf spot Pseudomonas cichorii
    Xanthomonas campestris pv. hederae
  Rhizoctonia aerial blight Rhizoctonia (binucleate)
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
     
Radermachera sinica (China-doll) Corynespora leaf spot Corynespora cassiicola
  Myrothecium leaf spot Myrothecium roridum
  Phytophthora stem rot Phytophthora parasitica
  Rhizoctonia stem and root rot Rhizoctonia solani AG4
     
Rhapis sp. (Lady finger palm) Brown leaf spot or Cercospora leaf spot Pseudocercospora rhapisicola
  Damping off Fusarium spp.
    Pythium spp.
  Drechslera leaf spot Drechslera setariae
  Exserohilum leaf spot Exserohilum rostratum
     
Rhoeo spathacea (Oyster plant) Commelina mosaic Commelina mosaic virus
  Pythium root rot Pythium spp.
  Tan leaf spot Curvularia eragrostidis
  Tobacco mosaic Tobacco mosaic virus
  Tradescantia mosaic Tradescantia virus
     
Saintpaulia ionantha (African violet) Botrytis blight Botrytis cinerea
  Corynespora leaf spot Corynespora cassiicola
  Erwinia blight Erwinia chrysanthemi
  Foliar nematode Aphelenchoides spp.
  Phytophthora blight Phytophthora parasitica
  Powdery mildew Oidium sp.
  Tomato spotted wilt Tomato spotted wilt virus
     
Sansevieria trifasciata (Mother-in-law tongue) Red leaf spot Fusarium moniliforme
  Root knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita
  Soft rot Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
  Stem rot Aspergillus niger
     
Schefflera arboricola (Dwarf or Hawaiian schefflera) Alternaria leaf spot Alternaria panax
  Bacterial leaf spot Erwinia chrysanthemi
    Pseudomonas cichorii
    Xanthomonas campestris pv. hederae
  Cercospora leaf spot Cercospora sp.
  Rhizoctonia aerial blight Rhizoctonia solani
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
     
Schlumbergera truncata (Thanksgiving and Christmas cacti) Cactus cyst nematode Cactodera cacti
  Drechslera stem rot Drechslera cactivora
  Fusarium stem rot Fusarium oxysporum
  Phytophthora stem rot Phytophthora sp.
  Soft rot Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora
  Virus Cactus virus X
     
Sedum spp. Colletotrichum leaf and stem rot Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
  Stemphylium leaf spot Stemphylium bolicki
     
Spathiphyllum spp. (Spathe flower) Cylindrocladium root and petiole rot Cylindrocladium spathiphylli
  Dasheen mosaic Dasheen mosaic virus
  Myrothecium leaf spot Myrothecium roridum
  Phytophthora leaf spot Phytophthora sp.
  Pythium root rot Pythium sp.
  Rhizoctonia aerial blight Rhizoctonia solani AG4
  Rhizoctonia root rot Rhizoctonia (binucleate)
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
     
Syngonium podophyllum (Nephthytis) Bacterial leaf spot Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora
Erwinia chrysanthemi
Pseudomonas cichorii
Bacterial blight Xanthomonas campestris pv. dieffenbachiae
  Black cane rot or Ceratocystis blight Ceratocystis fimbriata
  Burrowing nematode Radopholus similis
  Cephalosporium leaf spot Acremonium crotocinigenum
  Colletotrichum leaf spot Colletotrichum sp.
  Erwinia blight Erwinia chrysanthemi
  Myrothecium leaf spot Myrothecium roridum
  Pythium root rot Pythium spp.
  Rhizoctonia aerial blight Rhizoctonia solani
  Soft rot Erwinia carotovora subsp carotovora
  Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
     
Tradescantia spp. (Spiderwort) Tradescantia mosaic Tradescantia virus
     
Yucca spp. (Soft-tip Yucca and Spanish bayonet) Brown leaf spot Coniothyrium concentricum
Gray leaf spot Cytosporina sp.
Southern blight Sclerotium rolfsii
     
Zebrina pendula (Wandering Jew) Tobacco mosaic Tobacco mosaic virus
Tradescantia mosaic Tradescantia virus